I Have Trouble With Math

Five things I learned about myself last week:

1. If I drive for more than 7 hours straight in a crappy rental car without cruise control, power windows or locks and stained upholstery, I will curse myself for not choosing instead to drive our brand new SUV.

2. I live in a very small world. I know this because at the Pediatric Hospital Medicine conference I ran into my med school roommate whom I haven't seen in 9 years and found out that she just took a job in Tucson that my friend from residency recently left in order to take a job in Austin that I had applied for and didn't get but told her how great it was so she applied for it a year later. Make sense?

3. I have a friend who I only see once a year but we can still pick up where we left off and spend hours talking about our lives. Everyone needs that kind of friend and sometimes I forget to give thanks for that friendship.

4. If given a set of evaluations from medical students and residents, and they are positive in nature, I will carry them around in my bag and pull them out at lunch and read them over and over again (to myself, not out loud!). Occasionally, I am my own cheerleader. Embarrassing but true.

5. If I want to be a true leader, I have to stop being afraid to own who I am and my thoughts and opinions. I have to establish my credibility by walking the walk and coming correct in spite of those who have different ideas of what the future should look like.

6. I want to be a true leader.

Sorry, that's six things I learned about myself. It was a good week.

Plug for PLA

You’ve finished residency and are embarking on your career as a pediatrician. Maybe you are deep into fellowship and enjoying the challenge of academic life. Maybe you are comfortably settled into a group practice and building relationships with your patients and their families. Maybe you are trying to find your passion and traveling around as a locum tenens physician. And maybe, despite feeling accomplished and relieved that you are finally out of training, you ask yourself “What now?”

After finding myself in that exact position in 2007, I came across an advertisement for the Pediatric Leadership Alliance (PLA). At the time, I was struggling with how to make a name for myself in academic pediatrics as a young physician. I was intrigued by the opportunity to network with leaders in the field of pediatrics in such an informal environment and to be able to practice leadership skills in a practical, hands-on format. After attending the PLA, I possessed a renewed sense of confidence and felt part of a larger community of pediatricians who had the same values and drive to succeed. More importantly, I had the tools to channel my energy into a productive and exciting career path.

Over 3,000 pediatric professionals have attended the PLA and 79% of PLA alumni advanced into greater leadership roles within the Academy (including myself!), as well as in hospital, medical association, government and corporate environments following their training. Another PLA session is being offered March 23-25^th, immediately before the Annual Leadership Forum (ALF) at the Schaumburg Renaissance in Schaumburg Illinois. The PLA is specifically designed to provide real-life scenarios in order to practice skills and learn from one’s colleagues. Sessions include “Strategy Development: Charting Your Course” and “Dynamics of Change: Moving People & Culture”. A dynamic keynote speaker, Dr Lewis First, (Editor-in-Chief, Pediatrics) will describe his leadership journey and how leadership skills learned were embedded in advancing into more key roles in the profession of pediatrics. To promote networking among participants, the PLA has dedicated time for casual conversation during the reception, dinner and workshop meals. It was during this “downtime” that I was able to really form relationships with the other participants and facilitators. More than enjoying the company of my colleagues, I was inspired by the different people I met and by the work that they were doing.

In addition to the foundation for leadership formed at the conference, the participants will be encouraged to sustain their development through long term follow up and goal setting. Although a critical component of the workshop, the follow up is entirely personalized and voluntary – the support is provided by the PLA staff and the AAP as a whole but it is up to the individual to follow through on the goals set during the conference. This was the most difficult part for me personally, sustaining the momentum I gained at the PLA, but I was able to refer back to the PLA website and workshop materials including the book The Leadership Challenge by Kouzes and Posner. A full 13 hours of CME credit can be earned by attending this influential conference. Early registration (before Jan 30, 2011) is $395. Housing at the Schaumburg Renaissance is approximately $300 total for both nights. For more information visit www.aap.org/moc/members/PLA/ or email PLA@aap.org.

Please challenge yourself to answer the question “What now?” Consider sharpening your leadership skills with a group who pledges to “enable pediatricians to become effective learners and leaders to advance their profession, and to care and advocate for children”.